THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
Howe hails Cherries as they move up to fifth
EDDIE HOWE warned Bournemouth’s best is yet to come despite watching his red-hot team record their biggest away win in the Premier League.
David Brooks lit the spark with an early goal before Joshua King added two more and Callum Wilson bagged one of his own against 10-man Watford.
But the Hornets were left to rue Christian Kabasele’s 32nd-minute red card for a second bookable offence, bringing down King for a penalty he converted.
It was a result which moved Bournemouth, enjoying their best start to a Premier League season, up to fifth place, and left Watford without a win in five games.
Howe (right) said: “We have played better than that. But we are very pleased with the result.
“This is a tough place to come to and Watford have been in good form.
“It wasn’t the perfect performance. We believe we are capable of beating anyone when we are on top of our game. I think there is room to improve.
“We like to stay in the background as underdogs. We go about our work in a controlled way.
“I just hope it gives us the confidence and belief to win tough games and get more results.”
Brooks, an £11.5million signing from Sheffield United who scored his second goal in as many games, said: “The boys are on fire! Hopefully I can continue this form but the main focus was three points.”
It was only Watford’s third home defeat under Javi Gracia, but their worst here in over a year, and his manager of the month award seems a long time ago now.
They actually started quite well, but conceded a shocker on the break with Brooks tapping home after Ben Foster did brilliantly to deny Wilson from a King cross.
There was a suspicion of handball about it when Adam Smith charged down a Will Hughes shot to get Bournemouth on the move.
But after Craig Cathcart missed a free header from a Jose Holebas corner, the visitors doubled their lead when Kabasele, already in the book for a foul on Asmir Begovic, lost the plot.
After tugging King’s shirt outside the box, he allowed the Cherries striker to outmuscle him, and then brought him down with a kick in the shins. Referee Jon Moss looked to his linesman but had little choice. Penalty. Second yellow. Watford suddenly in all sorts of trouble. King stepped up to send Foster the wrong way from the spot, and it was three before half time when King headed home a cross from Wilson, who looked offside in the build-up.
Wilson bagged the fourth shortly after the break with Bournemouth fans singing “Easy! Easy!” and from then on it was just a case of seeing the game out as Vicarage Road slowly emptied.
Gracia said: “A bad day today, I think. The first game where we haven’t competed at the same level. Bournemouth played much better than us, winning all the challenges.
“After the sending-off it was very tough for us. It was very strange, playing with 10.
“We made more mistakes today than in all the games together.”